Well-digging outfit



May 27 1924.

H. B. ABERNATHY WELL DIGGING ouTFIT Filed March 13. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheefi Uw@ ,Ww/Way IzZ/ezz fr 'f z HABEENATHY W May 27 1924. v 1,495,544

H. B. BERNATHY WELL-DIGGING OUTFIT Filed March l5. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 icruciform shape.

Patented May 27, 1924.

Unire Nstares erica.v

WELL-DIGGING OUTFIT.

Application led. March 13, 1923.

To al? whom it may concern.'

Be it known that l, HENRY B. ABER` KATHY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Birmingham, in the county of Snohomish and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tell-Digging Outfits, of which the following is a specification.

The main purpose of my invention resides in the provision of a well digging outfit, wherein the component parts thereof may be readily changed to provide a boring tool stone grapple, or reamer, the device being characterized by its simplicity of construction and adaptability to be changed in an expeditious manner with the said diiferent types of tools.

rllhe nature and advantages of the invention will be better understood when the following detailed description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings, the invention residing in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts as claimed. y,

. ln the drawings forming part of this application, like numerals of reference'indicate similar parts in the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevation of an earth boring tool.

Figure 2 is a cross section upon the line 2 2 of Figure 1, and looking downwardly in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse cross sectional view thereof.

Figure 4 is an elevational view of a stone lifting grapple.

Figures 5 and 6 are detail cross sections upon the lines 5-5 and 6-6, respectively, of Figure 4.

First, having reference to Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, there is shown an earth boring tool comprising a pair of auger blades 5 of well known construction. Riveted, soldered or otherwise secured to the interior of these blades 5 are vertically extending arms 6, the upper ends thereof being loosely, pivotally secured at 7 tothe diametrically opposite arms of a cross head 8 of general As more clearly shown in Figure 3, this cross headS is formed upon the lower end of a relatively elongated sleeve 9, this sleeve being formed with a cross slot 10, it being noted that upon the underside of the said cross head 6, there is` formed a square-shaped projection 11.

Serial No. 624,731.

Freely slidable within the sleeve 9 is an operating rod l2, the same being formed adjacent its lower end with an annular flange 13, and being squared at its extreme end at 14.

the opposite ends thereof being formed with pendent ears 16, to which are pivotally'secured at 17, the upper split ends of links 18. The lower ends of these links 18 are similarly split and are loosely, pivotally secured at 19 to laterally inwardly projecting ears 20, upon the lower ends ofsaid vertically extending arms 6. Carried by the said handle 12 and freely slidable within the said slot 10 is a headed cross pin 21, it of course being understood that the upper end of the operating rod 12 is provided with the usual cross handle, and whenever it is desired to use the tool for boring purposes in well digging, it will be at once understood that a downward pressure upon the rod l2 will cause the said blades 5 to open to the degree desirable, after which the returning movement will effectively cut into the ground and by raising upon the handle, the blades will close upon the loose dirt, whereby the same may be raised and effectively dumped by again sliding the rod 12 through the sleeve 9.

Referring now to Figures 4, 5 and 6, and whenever it is desired to provide a grap pling tool for the purpose of removing rocks or the like from the ground, the auger blades 5 as well as the said cross arm 15, together with their directly associated parts are removed from the sleeve 9 formed with the cross head 8, and pivotally secured at 22 to the ends of each of the arms constituting the cruciform shaped cross head 8 are grappling lingers 23, the 4same extending downwardly, as clearly shown and being toothed or corrugated at their lower ends, and upon the inner faces thereof as at 24. In this instance, there) isextended through the said sleeve 9 an operating rod 25, upon the lower end of which, there is formed or secured a squareshaped head 26. Pivotally secured to the four sides of the head as at 27 are the inner endsy of links 28, these links normally extending outwardly and downwardly, and being in turn pivotally secured as at 2`9 to laterally, inwardly' extending ears 30 f orrn'e'd upon the said grapple fingers 23. n this instance also, as well as in' the tool.- shown in Figures Engaging over this square end 14 ol' the said rod 12 is a cross arm 15,-

l to 3 inclusive, the operating rod 25 earf ries a cross pin 3l, the same extending through the said slot l0 in the sleeve 9, for limiting the movement 0i' the rod within the sleeve for consequently controlling the expansion and contraction of the grapple fingers 23, with respect to each other.

In view of this construction, it will be at once understood that this grapple tool may be inserted within a hole, it being neted that by forcing the operating rod 25 downwardly, the grapple lingers 23 will be eX- tended away from each other, and after the ngers have been positioned over a rock7 an upward pull upon the rod 25 will consequently cause the contraction of the same about the rock, after which the same may be pulled from the ground.

ln view of the foregoing, it will be readily appreciated that l have produced a highly improved form of well boring outfit, the same comprising three distinct and separate types of tools, wherein the component parts of each may be readily changed and coinbined with each other for forming these types of tools, and although l have herein shown and described the preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made therein7 Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

ineaeea Having thus described my invention, what .l claim as new7 and desire to secure by Letters Patent is :u

A well digging outfit including an operating rod, ai cross head removably secured to the lower end of said rod, a sleeve member having radially projecting arms slidably mounted on said operating rod.` said sleeve having diametrically opposite longitudinally extending slots formed therein, a limiting pin mounted in said rod and extending through the slots of said sleeve for limiting the sliding movement of the sleeve on said rod, arms pivotally mounted in the ends of the radial extensions on said sleeve and carrying work engaging elementsv and links pivotally connected with said arms and the cross head on said operating rod whereby movement of said rod through the sleeve member will operate the work engaging element/through the relative movement between the sleeve and cross head,

and the removable connection of the sleeve and cross head with the operating rod will permit the removal thereof from said rod so that any one of a plurality of @litterently formed work engaging elements may be used in connection with said rod.

ln testimony whereoil l amx my signature.

HENRY B. ABERNATHY. 

